The organizers of the 2026 GDC Festival of Gaming have revealed this year’s finalists and honorable mentions for the 28th annual Independent Games Festival (IGF) Awards. It’s a showcase designed to celebrate independent games and their creators, with this year’s ceremony taking place on March 11 at 6:30 PM Pacific (9:30 PM Eastern). It’s been a controversial award season, with many questioning whether or not Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is really an indie game, and according to IGF, it’s not. The Game of the Year winner at The Game Awards 2025 isn’t nominated, giving a chance for other games to shine.
Leading the way this year, with five nominations, is Baby Steps. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s from the minds behind Ape Out and Getting Over It, and stars Nate, an unemployed failson who learns he can walk. Blippo+ is close behind with four nominations, and it’s a live-action, off-cable TV simulator.
According to the IGF Awards, this year’s nominees were selected from a list of almost 800 entries. The general public will be able to cast their vote for the IGF Audience Award from January 12 to January 25.
Best Student Game
- BubbleBeast DigiDungeon
- Kiloton
- Poco
- Prší
- Sip Fisher
- SPRKLS.exe
Honorable mentions
- Myth of Lumi
- Candellum
- Summit Drive
- Grindset T.V.
Excellence in Audio
- Baby Steps
- BALL x PIT
- Blippo+
- Eclipsium
- Morsels
- Wheel World
Honorable mentions
- The Drifter
- Angeline Era
- Skate Story
- Demonschool
- Skin Deep
Excellence in Design
- Angeline Era
- Baby Steps
- Öoo
- Skin Deep
- Titanium Court
- Time Flies
Honorable mentions
- Strange Jigsaws
- Below The Crown
- Is This Seat Taken?
- Henry Halfhead
- Type Help
Excellence in Narrative
- Baby Steps
- Perfect Tides: Station to Station
- Promise Mascot Agency
- Titanium Court
- Type Help
- Wednesdays
Honorable mentions
- Blippo+
- HORSES
- The Roottrees Are Dead
- Sorry We’re Closed
Excellence in Visual Arts
- Blippo+
- CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs
- Eclipsium
- Loco Motive
- Morsels
- Skate Story
Honorable mentions
- Sol Cesto
- Is This Seat Taken?
- The Drifter
- Demonschool
- Henry Halfhead
- PBJ – The Musical
Nuovo Award
- Baby Steps
- Blippo+
- HORSES
- Mini Mini Golf Golf
- Plum Road Tea Dream
- Titanium Court
- kevin’s PLAYING in berlin
- Wednesdays
Honorable mentions
- The End of Gameplay
- No Players Online
- The House Dreams Along With Them
- Type Help
- ΩMEGA_POINT
- Dreamcore
- Threshold
WINGS Award
- Ambrosia Sky
- Backpack Battles
- The Wandering Village
- Yes, Your Grace 2: Snowfall
- 13Z: The Zodiac Trials
Seumas McNally Grand Prize
- Baby Steps
- Angeline Era
- Blippo+
- HORSES
- Titanium Court
- Perfect Tides: Station to Station
Honorable mentions
- Eclipsium
- Time Flies
- Skate Story
- Skin Deep
- BALL X PIT
- Demonschool
- The Drifter
